Notes on a warm, summery Tuesday (at least it is here in Contra Costa)

I had a lot left over from last night and thought I’d share some of it with you.

The Giants are making an All-Star push for Pablo Sandoval. Their game notes last night touted his All-Star credentials and manager Bruce Bochy said without prompting, “As far as the All-Star game, he should be looked at real hard.”

It’s easy to state a case for Sandoval. The Panda is third in the league in hitting with a .336 average, behind the Mets’ David Wright (.349) and the Dodgers’ Juan Pierre (.337). It will be tough, though. When the players and Phils manager Charlie Manuel pick the reserves, they surely will think about the Giants’ pitching more than anything else. But it would be a heck of a national coming-out party for the kid if he made it.

I asked Bochy if he has conveyed his thoughts to Manuel, whose Phils are phlailing these days. Bochy said, “No, I think he has other things on his mind right now.”

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Bobby Evans, who negotiates most contracts for the Giants, is very circumspect about negotiations when they occur, but I got the sense from talking to him yesterday that something could happen soon with one or more of the team’s top three draft picks, high school pitcher Zach Wheeler, high school catcher Tommy Joseph and University of Louisville slugger Chris Dominguez.

It always benefits the team to sign players early, so they can get some playing time in the summer rookie leagues. I would think they would be most eager to see Dominguez simply because power is a more immediate need.

This year’s signing deadline is Aug. 17.

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As my friend Andrew Baggarly of the Mercury News reported the other day, Rich Aurilia is likely to go on bereavement leave during the four-game series in St. Louis next week so he can attend the memorial service for his father, Richard Santo Aurilia, who died Thursday at 64. He had muscular dystrophy for more than a decade.

Aurilia flew to Phoenix, where his parents live, after the June 14 game against Oakland for a final visit, then returned the next day in time to for the game.

“It was more of a closure visit,” Aurilia said.

We all knew Aurilia’s dad was very ill, but he asked us not to write about it because he did not want fans to think he was using this as an excuses for his poor play.

“I guess anybody who’s been through the death of a parent knows what goes through your head. I had watched my dad deteriorate for 10 to 15 years. He had no quality of life anymore. I’m glad he went quietly. He was at peace as far as giving in.”

Mr. Aurilia had worked for the New York City schools. His wife Lorraine survives him.